Bird Flue

Bird flu or avian influenza, is an influenza type that spreads among birds and can affect humans rarely too.

Bird flu virus affects various bird species, including:

-       Chickens

-       Ducks

-       Geese

-       Turkeys

The virus can spread among the wild, pet and commercial birds. However it’s not necessary that infected bird will develop illness, therefore a seemingly healthy bird may pose a risk to the humans and other birds getting in contact with it too.

Most of the strains of avian influenza virus don’t harm humans, however two strains have infected humans in recent years and caused a serious concern:

-       H5N1 (since 1997)

-       H7N9 (since 2013)

These influenza viruses don’t transmit from humans to humans usually and don’t’ infect humans easily either, however they do infect humans and have resulted in a number of deaths around the world.

Other strains of this virus also infect humans but rarely and that too not resulting in severe illness. These strains include:

-       H7N7

-       H9N2

-       H6N1

-       H10N8

-       H5N6

Signs and symptoms of bird flu in humans

Symptoms of bird flu in humans are similar to other types of flu, like:

-       Fever

-       Muscle aches

-       Headache

-       Respiratory symptoms, including

o   Cough

o   Running nose

Some patients reported non-regular symptoms of flu too, including:

-       Nausea

-       Vomiting

-       Diarrhea

-       Chest pain

-       Abdominal pain

-       Bleeding, from:

o   Nose

o   Gums

These symptoms appear immediately and suddenly.

The incubation period for bird flu symptoms to appear is 3 to 5 days. However in some cases, it may take up to 7 days to develop symptoms.

Once the symptoms appear, within few days, fatal complications can occur too, including:

-       Pneumonia

-       Acute respiratory distress syndrome

-       Multiple organ failure

Immediate treatment is necessary for these patients to prevent serious complications and for the reduction of the risk of death.

Detecting avian influenza virus in humans

Bird flue isn’t diagnosed on the basis of signs and symptoms only; laboratory investigations are needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Usually, a swab is collected from the nose or throat of the infected person during the initial days of illness. This specimen is used to detect the virus by either a molecular test or by growing the virus in lab, or both.

Note that the procedure in which the virus is grown in laboratory, should only be done in the laboratories that have a high level of protection.

Spread of bird flu to humans

Bird flu can spread once a human comes in direct contact with:

-       The infected birds

o   Dead or alive, both

-       Droppings of the infected birds

-       Secretions for the infected birds eyes or respiratory tract

-       Getting in contact with or inhaling the droplets sneezed by infected birds

-       Choosing and preparing the infected bird for cooking, including:

o   Culling

o   Slaughtering

o   Butchering

o   Preparing the infected bird for cooking

Infections can also spread in live markets, as birds are sold in crowded and unsanitary conditions.

Note that bird flu doesn’t spread through properly cooked food. Also, eggs are safe to eat too.

Bird flu in domestic animals

Several domestic animal species have shown the symptoms of bird flu (H5N1), including:

-       Cats

-       Dogs

-       Birds

-       Pigs

-       Ferrets

How to prevent bird flu

Prevention is better than cure; it goes for bird flu too. Prevention from getting infected with bird flu including in regions where outbreaks have been reported is simple, and includes:

-       Avoid going to markets for live animals and poultry farms

-       Avoid getting in contact with surfaces that are contaminated with the secretions of the bird droppings

-       Don’t touch or pick birds, both dead or alive

-       Don’t handle or eat undercooked food including:

o   Raw poultry

o   Eggs

o   Duck or other birds related dishes

-       Don’t collect or bring with you the live poultry products including feathers

-       Practice personal hygiene, including regularly washing hands

-       Use protective gears like aprons, gloves, boots, boot covers, head covers, etc. when at risk of coming in contact with the virus or infected birds

-       People at risk of getting in contact with bird flu virus can be given antiviral drugs prophylactically. Although this approach isn’t 100% useful, its’ still 70 to 90% effective.

-       Seasonal influenza vaccine doesn’t prevent the bird flu virus infection, however it can reduce the co-infection risks with human and influenza virus

Protecting your mouth, nose, eyes and hands from the particles containing the bird flu virus is important for the prevention of disease, as they are the most common ways the virus infects a human.

Consult your doctor if you’re suspecting or suffering from the symptoms associated with bird flu to prevent any serious and even fatal complications.

Anemia

Anemia refers to decreased capacity of the blood to carry oxygen.

Anemia can occur due to various causes, especially the ones resulting in reduced iron or hemoglobin in the body. This can be due to:

-       Blood loss

-       Reduced production of red blood cells

-       Destruction of red blood cells due to any reason

Causes of Anemia

Several conditions that may lead to anemia include:

-       Impaired production of red blood cells

o   Disturbances in stem cells proliferation and differentiation

§  Pure red cell aplasia

§  Aplastic anemia

§  Insufficient erythropoietin production due to renal failure

§  Anemia related to various endocrine disorders

o   Disturbances in erythroblasts proliferation and differentiation

§  Pernicious anemia (vitamin B12 deficiency)

§  Folic acid deficiency

§  Anemia of prematurity

§  Iron deficiency anemia

§  Thalassemia, resulting in deficient synthesis of globin

§  Congenital dyserythropoeitic anemias, resulting in ineffective erythropoiesis

§  Anemia caused by renal failure, causing dysfunction of stem cells too

o   Other impaired RBC production mechanisms

§  Myelodysplastic syndrome

§  Myelophthistic anemia, when the bone marrow is replaced by granulomas, malignant tumors or other materials

§  Anemia of chronic inflammation

-       Increased destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemias)

o   Intrasorpuscular abnormalities

§  Hereditary elliptocytosis

§  Hereditary spherocytosis

§  Abetalipoproteinemia (resulting in membrane lipids defects)

§  Enzyme deficiencies

·      G6PD and glutathione deficiencies, resulting in increased oxidative stress

·      Hexokinase deficiency

·      Pyruvate kinase deficiency

§  Hemoglobinopathies

·      Sickle cell anemia

·      Unstable hemoglobin

§  Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

o   Extracorpuscular abnormalities

§  Mediated by antibodies

·      Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia

·      Cold agglutinin hemolytic anemia

·      Rh disease

·      Transfusion reaction

§  Mechanical trauma to red blood cells

·      Microangiopathic hemolytic anemias, including:

o   Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

o   Disseminated intravascular coagulation

·      Infections, including:

o   Malaria

·      Heart surgery

·      Haemodialysis

-       Blood loss anemia

o   Due to trauma

o   Anemia of prematurity

o   Lesions in gastro intestinal tract

o   Gynecologic issues, resulting in acute or chronic blood loss

o   Menstrual blood loss

o   Intestinal nematodes infections (worm infestations)

-       Fluid overload, causing decreased hemoglobin concentration

o   Excessive fluid or sodium intake or retention

o   Anemia of pregnancy

Symptoms of Anemia

Anemia doesn’t always present with obvious symptoms in all patients and that’s why it goes unnoticed in many patients.

The symptoms of anemia are related to the underlying cause mainly. Common symptoms of anemia include:

-       Weakness

-       Fatigue

-       Malaise

-       Lack of concentration

-       Dyspnea on exertion

In patients with moderate or severe anemia, the symptoms can be more serious too, like:

-       Increased cardiac output, presenting as:

o   Angina

o   Palpitations

o   Intermitted claudication

o   Symptoms of heart failure

-       Pallor (discoloration and paleness of skin, mucosal lining, nail beds and conjunctiva)

-       Spleen enlargement

-       Low blood pressure

-       Heart murmurs

-       Ventricular hypertrophy

-       Bounding pulse

-       Change in the color of stools

Certain signs are specific for various types of anemia, like:

-       Koilonychia – iron deficiency anemia

-       Jaundice – hemolytic anemia

-       Leg ulcers – sickle cell disease

-       Bone deformities – thalassemia major

-       Restless leg syndrome and Pica (consumption of non food items like paper, grass, wax, ice, hair, dirt, etc.) – iron deficiency anemia (although not always necessarily associated with it)

Chronic anemia can result in several changes and disturbances in the behavior of the patient too, especially children. In infants, it can result in impaired neurological development while in school age children it can result in reduced performance in school.

Diagnosing Anemia

Anemia is diagnosed on the basis of history, physical examination and laboratory investigations.

Tell your complete past and current medical history to your doctor. If he’ll suspect anemia in you, he will evaluate you in detail during physical examination and ask questions accordingly.

He might advice blood tests or other laboratory investigations to confirm his diagnosis and to find out the underlying cause of your condition.

Laboratory investigations usually performed depend upon the underlying cause and the type of anemia.

Usually, tests done for anemia are:

-       Blood complete picture (also called: blood cp, cbc)

-       Blood electrophoresis – for thalassemia usually

-       Stool examination for occult blood

Treatment of Anemia

Treatment of anemia depends upon the causative underlying cause of the condition.

Common treatments include:

-       Dietary improvements

o   Diet rich in green leafy vegetables

o   Apple and other iron rich foods

-       Supplements

o   Iron supplements

o   Vitamin B12 supplements

o   Folic acid supplements

-       Medication to cure or control the underlying cause of anemia

-       Blood transfusion

Your doctor will evaluate your condition and advice the best possible treatment options available in your specific case. Don’t self medicate and consult a doctor when you’re having any of the symptoms of anemia.

Several forms of anemia can’t be prevented, especially the ones caused due to genetic disorders including enzyme deficiencies and thalassemia. However, best way to avoid and prevent anemia is to keep a healthy diet and don’t take any blood loss condition lightly and consult your doctor immediately in case of any blood loss or suspicion of anemia.

Seizures

Most of us have an idea of what a seizure is, or at least we may have a picture in our minds of what it looks like when a person experiences a seizure.  Anyway, a seizure occurs when there is abnormal electrical activity going on in the brain.  Depending on the type of seizure a person has, it may pretty much go unnoticed…or it may be an episode that is accompanied by very dangerous muscle spasms, or one that ends up causing a loss of consciousness.  One of the scary parts is that seizures generally come on suddenly and you really never know exactly how long they will last or how severe they will be.  Basically, having seizures is a condition you really cannot prepare for because it may happen one time, or it may happen more than once…it all depends upon the electrical activity in your brain.

Seizures are divided into two broad categories: generalized and partial.  The category a seizure falls into is based upon the type of behavior and activity that occurs in the brain.  Generalized seizures are produced by electrical impulses from the entire brain, whereas partial seizures are produced by electrical impulses in a relatively small part of the brain.  Furthermore, there are six types of generalized seizures and three types of partial seizures…allow Total Home Health to explain as follows.

·      Generalized Seizures

1.     Grand Mal

·      Symptoms include unconsciousness, convulsions and rigid muscles.

·      The most common and dramatic type.

·      Injuries and accidents may occur, such as tongue biting and urinary incontinence.

2.     Absence

·      Symptoms include a brief loss of consciousness.

·      Typically this seizure will interrupt activity and the individual will present with a blank stare.

·      Begins and ends abruptly and may occur several times a day.

·      Individuals are usually not aware they are having a seizure, except they may complain of losing time.

3.     Myoclonic

·      Symptoms include sporadic, jerking movements.

·      Movements will usually be on both sides of the body.

·      If violent, this type of seizure may result in dropping or involuntarily throwing objects.

4.     Clonic

·      Symptoms include repetitive, jerking movements.

·      Both sides of the body will be involved at the same time.

5.     Tonic

·      Symptoms include muscle stiffness and rigidity.

6.     Atonic

·      Symptoms include a loss of muscle tone.

·      Loss of muscle tone particularly occurs in the arms and legs, which often results in a fall.

·      Partial Seizures

1.   Simple

·      Awareness is retained.

·      Symptoms include jerking, muscle rigidity, spasms and head turning.

2.   Complex

·      Symptoms include things such as lip smacking, chewing, fidgeting, walking and other repetitive, involuntary but coordinated movements.

·      Awareness is impaired.

·      Individuals seem to be “out of it,” or “staring into space.”

3.   Partial seizure with secondary generalization

·      Symptoms include those that are initially associated with a preservation of consciousness, but then it eventually evolves into a loss of consciousness and convulsions.

So now that you have a general idea of how seizures may be categorized you may ask, “What causes seizures to happen?”  Well, often the cause is unknown.  However, many conditions may provoke seizures…including:

·      Stroke

·      Brain tumors

·      Head injuries

·      Electrolyte imbalance

·      Very low blood sugar

·      Repetitive sounds or flashing lights

·      Medications

·      Withdrawal from medications or alcohol

·      Drug use, such as cocaine and heroin

·      Cancer

·      Brain infections, such as meningitis

Witnessing a seizure may be quite dramatic…so the best thing you can do is to stay calm and do your best to see that the individual involved remains safe.  For example, if the individual is sitting in a chair and begins to have a seizure, carefully lower them onto the floor and onto their side in an open area so that nothing around them could cause an injury.  Turning the individual onto their side will best prevent them from choking if they were to vomit during their seizure episode.  Also, if you are a witness to a seizure it is good to take into account what time it began and ended in order to see if the seizure follows any specific pattern(s).  Total Home Health will educate you on several important bits of information in order for you and your loved ones to best deal with seizures, prevent any injuries and promote your overall health.

Total Home Health has a program that will meet your needs when dealing with seizures.  We firmly believe in preventive care and promotion of your health.  Our compassionate professionals will educate you on the best ways to prevent a seizure from occurring in your own unique situation and what to do if one does decide to occur.  Due to unexpected nature of seizures, with Total Home Health we will formulate a plan for your own unique situation so that you can be as prepared as possible if and when your next seizure occurs.  Enroll today and join our team of health care professionals that care about you and will never fail to treat you as one of our own!